All Posts By Maria Russo

Maria Russo is an editor at Food Network, now living in New York City after being born and raised in the great state of Michigan. She likes her eggs runny, her pasta cheesy and has been known to throw back dozens of oysters at a time.

Each week Food Network Star finalists are tasked with putting their personalities on a plate in inspiring, creative and, perhaps most importantly, delicious ways. Most competitors manage to get the job done, but in any particular challenge there's of...

You know those moments on TV that make you wince and curl up into a ball as you watch the action unfold through your fingers over your eyes? That happened not once but twice during this week's episode of Food Network Star. The stakes were high as f...

With only 11 short weeks to ready finalists before a winner will be chosen, the Food Network Star beast is such that week after week, hopeful competitors will fall, faced with the crushing disappointment of elimination. Here on Star Talk, we'll be br...

Just as those in Northern cities and states lay claim to different styles of pizza, hot dogs and clam chowder, many in the South have passionate ideas for what barbecue sauce should be. Sweet, smoky, tangy, sticky, crimson and white — there’s no shortage of flavors, looks and textures when it comes to creating the ultimate meat accompaniment. On this morning’s all-new episode of The Kitchen, the co-hosts broke down barbecue sauces by region, looking at the signature elements of each — and sharing how simple it is to make them all at home, no matter where you live. Read on below for four of the most-common ‘cue sauces, then tell us in the comments which is your favorite.

Sweet and Sticky BBQ Sauce (Kansas City Style)
Featuring a base of ketchup, molasses and brown sugar, this thick sauce is indeed packed with sugar, but the sweetness is hardly overwhelming. The key is balancing those ingredients with a splash of tangy apple cider vinegar and the umami-like funk of Worcestershire sauce for well-rounded results.

If Food Network Star finalists think their mentors, Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis, have particular requests when it comes to their presentations and offerings on the plate, just wait until this weekend when two special guests drop by unannounce...

In Heat 2 of his Cutthroat Kitchen: Time Warp Tournament, Alton Brown, aka “Sgt. Pepper” this week, and the judge of the day, Mr. Jet “The Beat” Tila, traveled back in time with the four hungry chef competitors for a taste of sabotages a la the 1960s. During the After-Show, they rolled into the arena not in a yellow submarine, but in the SS Mustard submarine, in which three of the four Round 1 chefs were forced to prep their joint party-punch and party-snack offerings. And when it came time to put their own spins on a punch, they were met with yet another of the day’s sabotages: the now-infamous oversize gelatin mold.

Alright, fans. Be honest. You met the Food Network Star finalists just a few weeks ago, but we're guessing that you've already picked your favorites. Right?Finalists' true personalities are becoming clear to the mentors — and likely you watching ...